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Scientists Solve Mystery of Ginger Cats; Implications for ‘All Cells and Tissues’ (Maria)
The author writes, “After decades of mystery, new research has shed light on a question that has long stumped scientists and cat lovers alike — what exactly makes cats orange? Two studies published in Current Biology last week by separate teams at Stanford University and Japan’s Kyushu University at last provided some answers. Scientists have known for more than a century that orange cats inherit coloring differently from other mammals. … Now researchers have identified the genetic mutation that gives orange cats their signature hue.”
50+ Venezuelans Imprisoned in El Salvador Came to US Legally, Never Violated Immigration Law (Sean)
The author writes, “The US government not only denied these men due process; it has also generally failed to provide their families, their attorneys, or the public any information about what it alleges these men did to deserve incarceration in El Salvador. In fact, it has never even published a comprehensive list of individuals that it has sent to El Salvador, and it has refused to verify the CBS News list. Journalists have already discovered that the list obtained by CBS News was incomplete. Moreover, in most cases, the men never knew the ‘evidence’ against them or that they were being removed to El Salvador. Finally, the US and Salvadoran governments won’t allow the men to talk to anyone, so there is no way to interview them directly.”
Former Israeli PM Says Country’s Action in Gaza ‘Close to a War Crime,’ as UN Warns 14,000 Babies Could Die (DonkeyHotey)
From Time: “The criticism from Israeli politicians comes amid U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher issuing a stark warning on Tuesday morning, saying that 14,000 babies in Gaza could die within 48 hours if they do not receive urgent nutrition and care. ‘This is not food that Hamas are going to steal,’ he told the BBC. ‘We run the risk of looting, of being hit as part of the Israeli military offensive…we will be impeded, we will run huge risks, but I don’t see a better idea than getting that baby food in, to those moms, who at the moment cannot feed their own kids.’ According to Israeli officials, 93 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, following an 11-week blockade. But as of early Wednesday morning, the U.N.’s humanitarian office said the aid has only been transported to the Palestinian side of the crossing and has yet to be distributed in Gaza.”
Microsoft Fires Employee Who Interrupted CEO’s Speech to Protest AI Tech for Israeli Military (Reader Steve)
The author writes, “Lopez’s outburst was the first of several pro-Palestinian disruptions at the event that drew thousands of software developers to the Seattle Convention Center. At least three talks by executives were disrupted, the company even briefly cut the audio of one livestreamed event. Protesters also gathered outside the venue. Microsoft has previously fired employees who protested company events over its work in Israel, including at its 50th anniversary party in April. Microsoft acknowledged last week that it provided AI services to the Israeli military for the war in Gaza but said it had found no evidence to date that its Azure platform and AI technologies were used to target or harm people in Gaza.”
A New Cold War Is Brewing Over Rare Earth Minerals (Laura)
From The Verge: “The future of everything from smartphones, to military equipment, to electric vehicles hangs on 17 rare earth minerals and the magnets that they’re made into. And China, the world’s largest refiner and producer, is tightening its grip and threatening the US’ largest automakers. Over the last 30 years, China has methodically cornered the market on mining and refining rare earth minerals, which are used to produce a variety of common items like passenger vehicles and everyday electronics. In the wake of US President Donald Trump’s increasingly aggressive trade war, China is leveraging its position as the world’s largest producer, at the expense of the American auto industry.”
College Professors Are Turning to ChatGPT to Generate Course Materials. One Student Noticed — and Asked for a Refund (Sean)
The author writes, “Stapleton’s situation highlights the growing use of AI in higher education. A survey conducted by consulting group Tyton Partners in 2023 found that 22% of higher-education teachers said they frequently utilized generative AI. The same survey conducted in 2024 found that the percentage had nearly doubled to close to 40% of instructors within the span of a year. AI use is becoming more prevalent among students, too. OpenAI released a study in February showing that more than one-third of young adults in the U.S. ages 18 to 24 use ChatGPT, with 25% of their messages tied to learning and schoolwork. The top two use cases of ChatGPT among this demographic were tutoring and writing help.”
